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Just as Wan Chunmei finished speaking, Tan Sanyuan hadn’t yet responded when Wan Chunmei noticed something startling: Little Qiyue had let go of the stool and was standing independently.
She quickly knelt down to support her and smiled. “My good little girl, are you about to start walking?”
At just six or seven months old, Little Qiyue was still very young for walking. However, Wan Chunmei thought that Little Qiyue wasn’t an ordinary child, so walking at such a young age wasn’t entirely impossible. She felt reassured.
Having discovered the joy of standing on her own, Little Qiyue grew even bolder. She gently pushed Wan Chunmei away and took careful steps forward.
Her little round body swayed from side to side, bundled up in a thick coat, resembling a chubby little chick—adorable and funny at the same time.
Wan Chunmei hurried after her, afraid she might fall.
Tan Sanyuan stood by quietly, watching. For some reason, he felt unusually excited and nervous. His heart raced with every one of her steps, almost as if it would leap out of his throat and into his forehead.
Gradually, all he could focus on was the sight of this wobbly little child taking her first steps.
After a few steps, Little Qiyue, perhaps tired, lost her balance and gently toppled to the ground. Thankfully, she was wearing a thick coat, so it didn’t hurt.
However, both Wan Chunmei and Tan Sanyuan were startled.
“Ah! My little Qiyue!” Wan Chunmei immediately picked her up, brushing the dust off her clothes while soothing her. “Little Qiyue, don’t rush, take your time, walk slowly.”
Tan Sanyuan also hurried over, his brows furrowed as he squatted down, gently holding her tiny hand and blowing on it. “Does it hurt?”
Little Qiyue seemed to understand, lowering her head slightly.
Tan Sanyuan blew on her hand again.
Since she had braced herself with her hands during the fall, her little palm was slightly reddened.
Wan Chunmei saw this too and couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
“Mother, Third Brother!”
At that moment, Tan Yiliang’s voice suddenly sounded from the door.
Wan Chunmei and Tan Sanyuan both looked up in surprise. Tan Yiliang entered, drenched in sweat, with a basket on his back.
“Mother, come take a look! Can these radishes be used for pickling?” he said.
Wan Chunmei placed Little Qiyue on a chair, stood up, and walked over to Tan Yiliang. When she saw the basket of red-skinned radishes, she was stunned. “Where did these little radishes come from?”
Tan Yiliang took a large gulp of cold water, wiping his mouth and smiling. “You know that patch of land we’ve been neglecting in the ruined field? Today, Little Black led me there to dig, and we discovered these little radishes growing in the soil.”
Wan Chunmei glanced at him and chuckled. “Don’t tell me you didn’t recognize the radish leaves? You needed to dig to find them?”
Tan Yiliang scratched his head sheepishly, laughing. “Mother, I honestly didn’t notice. That piece of land was usually covered with weeds or snow. I had no idea radishes were growing there.”
Wan Chunmei, realizing the situation, guessed that it might be another blessing from Little Qiyue.
She didn’t probe further, picking up a red-skinned radish and laughing. “Well, well, this is perfect! We were running low on vegetables for pickling, and now we have all these radishes. It’s a blessing!”
Tan Yiliang held one up, studying it for a moment. “Mother, can we really use these red-skinned radishes for pickling?”
Wan Chunmei nodded, smiling. “Of course we can. The pickles made from these radishes will look beautiful, and they might even sell better.”
Tan Yiliang’s heart soared with joy. He turned around and said, “Mother, there’s still a whole basket of them in the field. Should I go back and bring it here?”
Wan Chunmei froze, surprised. “There are more?”
Tan Yiliang grinned. “Yes, plenty more. Don’t worry, I’ll be right back with them.”
“Okay, be careful. Don’t hurt your back,” Wan Chunmei cautioned.
“Yes, Mother!” Tan Yiliang responded with a loud, cheerful voice.